The program aims to provide newly graduated nurses with the opportunity to consolidate their knowledge and skills, develop clinical competence and establish themselves as professional Registered Nurses.

Canberra Health Services invites applications from Registered Nurses from both the ACT and Australia wide for its Transition to Practice program.

2018 recruitment

A recruitment information session will be held on Monday 18 June 2018, 2-3pm at Canberra Hospital, Building 5, level 2, Room 1A, Yamba Drive, Garran, ACT.

This session will include a short presentation and the opportunity to meet members of the graduate nurse team who will happily answer any of your questions. The Transition to Practice Program also conducts information sessions at the University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University at times determined by these institutions.

Downloads

COMPLETE applications which have been electronically submitted via the ACT Health Employment website will be assessed in July/August 2018 and your referees contacted.

After assessing the application packages, successful applicants are invited to attend an Assessment Centre which involves a short interview and individual documentation exercise. The Skills Assessment Centre sessions will be held on September 10 and 11, 2018 at Canberra Hospital. You are required to attend 1 x half day session only.

The TTPP Clinical Development Nurses (CDNs) work exclusively with the Transition to Practice Program to provide clinical support, education, feedback and assessment of competency related to the NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016).

The role of the Transition to Practice Program CDN is to:

Support your transition into the organisation and nursing workforce

Assist in identifying and facilitating your learning needs

Provide ‘hands on’ clinical support

Provide feedback on work performance

Enhance your professional development

Promote evidence based practice, and

Assess competence

Four dedicated CDNs support the Transition to Practice program at Canberra Hospital.

Most clinical areas throughout ACT Health have a CDN allocated to their team. These CDNs provide support to all staff in their respective clinical area and also assist new graduate nurses.

The ACT Health Transition to Practice Program recognises that everyone wants something different in their graduate year and for their career. We offer flexibility and choices with rotations to most departments and specialty areas. These areas include:

Division of Critical Care

Clinical Support Services

We also provide opportunities for graduates to participate in dedicated foundation programs within Perioperative, Intensive Care and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. These specialised programs are conducted concurrently with the Transition to Practice program.

Once you have been offered a position in the TTPP, each specialty area offers a meet and greet to prospective candidates and selects graduate registered nurses to undertake their program. Some additional educational requirements are expected as part of these specialised programs.

Specialty streams are available in Mental Health (12 months in Mental Health placements).

Graduate intakes vary each year and are dependent on organisational need. In 2018, ACT Health welcomed intakes in February, April, May, August and November.

How many registered nurse positions are offered?

This varies each year depending on organisational need. In 2016/2017, the TTPP offered 90 contract positions across three intakes. 2018 numbers will be around 100.

When are applications for the 2019 intake open?

Applications are expected to open in Mid June 2018. Information regarding any future recruitment will be published on the 'Application Process' section of the TTPP website.

If I want to commence my Transition to Practice program (TTPP) in the mid year intakes, when do I have to apply?

If you wished to commence in any of the 2019 intakes, you must apply in June 2018. Information regarding our recruitment process can be found in the 'Application Process' section of the website from June 2018.

Are you able to do the TTPP in a part-time capacity?

Yes, you can work part-time. ACT Health is a family friendly organisation and supports work life balance. The minimum number of shifts you must work is 7 per fortnight to complete the program in 12 months. The choice is yours, many graduates elect to work 8 shifts per fortnight.

Do you provide an orientation program as part of the TTPP?

Yes, you participate in a three day ACT Health Orientation program in addition to a TTPP orientation/workshop day.

Do I have supernumerary time during my clinical placements?

In your initial clinical area you are given two supernumerary days and one day in your second six month placement. Graduates who undertake a foundation program receive an extended supernumerary period as determined by the specialty areas.

How many clinical rotations are there in the TTPP?

There will be two clinical rotations (2 x 6 months) in 2018. These clinical placements are selected based on ward availability, organisational need and your clinical preferences that are submitted at Open Day. Each graduate can expect to get at least 1 x 6 month rotation in an area of preference.

What kind of professional development is available as part of the TTPP?

In addition to the scheduled fortnightly graduate education sessions, you have access to free continuing education each year through ward in-services and the Staff Development Unit programs. Graduates are also able to apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Office postgraduate scholarship scheme if undertaking postgraduate education after the graduate year.

What clinical support is provided to me during my graduate year?

Clinical Development Nurses work exclusively with the Transition to Practice Program to provide clinical support, education, feedback and assessment of competency related to the Standards of Practice for the Registered Nurse (2016). TTPP CDNs are accessible 364 days a year from 8am-8pm*. Most clinical areas also have a specialised CDN available to assist new staff working in that clinical area. Most areas also allocate preceptors.* excluding Christmas Day

How do I apply?

ACT Health invites applications from Registered Nurses for its Transition to Practice Program in June each year. Applications for 2019 are expected to open in mid June. Information regarding this recruitment process will be advertised on the ACT Health employment website.

When will the interview process take place?

Successful applicants are invited to participate in a Skills Assessment Centre, which includes a short interview and individual documentation exercise. The Skills Assessment Centre will take place September 10 & 11, 2018. You will be invited to attend 1x half day session.

When will I know if I have been offered a position at Canberra Hospital?

Successful applicants will be notified approximately 4-5 weeks after completing the Assessment Centre.

When do I submit preferences for my clinical placements during the TTPP?

Requests for clinical placements are submitted after you have accepted your offer of employment from ACT Health. You will be invited to attend Open Day on November 15, 2018 to submit your preferences.

What happens to my clinical placements if I am unsuccessful in obtaining a Foundation Program position?

In addition to selecting Foundation program requests, it is recommended that you include other area requests as well. If you do not advise us of your clinical requests your placements will be allocated according to organisation need and ward availability.

If am unsuccessful at gaining a specialty Foundation position, am I still able to do a clinical rotation to this area during my TTPP?

Placements are not available for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit/Centre for Newborn Care outside of the foundation program. In 2018, 6 month placements were offered in Perioperative in the specialty of PACU and EDSU as well as the foundation program (12 months in Perioperative).

Open Day is designed to showcase the diversity of clinical placement opportunities available within ACT Health. We invite prospective Registered and Enrolled Nurses to visit our interactive ward displays and consider the clinical placements we have on offer as part of the Transition to Practice Program

Event information

Open Day for the 2019 Transition to Practice Program will be held on November 15, 2018 from 9.30am-12.00pm

Open Day is held in the Staff Development unit (Room 1A, Building 5) on the Canberra Hospital campus in Garran, ACT

Questions from prospective graduates regarding clinical areas can be directed to the Transition to Practice Co-ordinator on 5124 7057 or the Clinical Development Nurse Office on (02) 5124 4113

Transition to Practice employment positions are currently offered on a contract basis. At the end of your contract period, graduates must apply for permanent/contract positions within ACT Health. The availability of positions will be determined by organisational need at the time of application.

ACT Health is committed to the ongoing learning and development of nursing staff. We have strong associations with the University of Canberra and Australian Catholic University who offer a variety of post graduate study options. ACT Health supports nurses with post graduate study through a generous scholarship scheme.